TWO rural bus services which were facing the axe have been saved thanks to the hard work of local people.

The X12 and 11 services, connecting Coniston and coastal villages with Ulverston and Barrow, looked set to be cancelled because of cuts to Cumbria County Council funding - but will be relaunched with a new timetable from Monday after being fought for by residents and councillors.

"I'm really impressed," said Cllr Janet Willis, mid-Furness representative on South Lakeland District Council.

"So many people have worked hard and it really has been a community effort to keep these services running."

The county council plans to withdraw funding for the two services on Saturday.

When the cuts were first announced around 190 people packed into a public meeting to show their support for the X12, connecting Coniston with Ulverston, and the 11 which connects villages between Ulverston and Barrow.

They vowed to help save the services, which are operated by Blueworks Buses, and several local people joined together to form the 'Friends of X112' group.

Cllr Willis explained the group has since been working hard urging businesses to advertise on the vehicles, while residents at Rampside have taken to the buses handing out questionnaires to find out when services are most needed.

Aldingham Parish Council has also agreed to give funding.

"I've even had people ringing me saying that even though they don't use the bus now, they will do when it relaunches," continued Cllr Willis.

"Hopefully because it has been a community effort, the services will be used."

Phil Halliwell, managing director of Blueworks, also hailed the work done by Cllr Willis and colleague, Cllr James Airey.

And he said if the services are successful, the timetable could be expanded in the future.

"The route is a coastal one and we will be running an express service, so we hope to attract workers and students."

However, it is expected the service will make a loss during its first two months, and a deadline has been set for the start of 2015, when the service may have to be cancelled if it is not used enough.